October 26, 2006 | Read Time: 1 minute
Companies played an important role in relief efforts after the South Asian tsunamis and Hurricane Katrina. Now a new Web site hopes to encourage even more business involvement.
The Partnership for Disaster Response — a committee formed by the Business Roundtable, an association of 160 corporate chief executives — created the new site to help companies prepare for and respond to disasters.
The online clearinghouse provides information on topics such as how companies can donate wisely in times of crisis, find training for employees who would like to volunteer after an emergency, plan for business continuity, and help employees deal with the emotional and financial effects of a disaster. Case studies profile companies that have come up with creative approaches for dealing with disasters, and a directory provides descriptions and contact information for nonprofit relief organizations and state and federal emergency-management agencies.
During disasters, the site will post frequent updates from the Department of Homeland Security, the American Red Cross, and other organizations, says Johanna Schneider, executive director for external relations at the Business Roundtable.
“It can be a catalogue of needs, so companies who want to respond can see what’s needed,” she says. “We also can tell people what’s not needed, which is often as important as knowing what is needed.”
To get there: Go to http://www.respondtodisaster.org.
